LEYBURN AIRFIELD,
LEYBURN, QLD, AUSTRALIA
ALSO KNOWN AS STRATHANE INITIALLY
DURING WWII

Leyburn Airfield 4 October 1945

Leyburn Airfield Leyburn
was located 37 kms from Toowoomba between Toowoomba and Warwick. It was
one of four airfields provided for use by the USAAF's Heavy Bomber aircraft in the
event of a Japanese landing near Brisbane. The Australian War Cabinet approved
the urgent construction of Leyburn Airfield on 8 May 1942. This of course was
just after the Battle of the Coral Sea.

It would appear that would was already well
advanced before this approval as on 3 May 1942, PO Keays reported that the NW-SE
runway had been cleared and graded for a length of 7,000 feet and suitable for
use in dry weather. A camp had been erected and gravelling of the NW-SW runway
was due to start on 5 May 1942.

All facilities at Leyburn were completed by April
1943. It was described as "a heavy bomber field with buildings and
services for 450 personnel (no sleeping accommodation)". By July 1943,
it was one of 17 airfields in Queensland that were still unoccupied.

An advanced party of 21
Squadron RAAF, arrived at Leyburn airfield from Camden in New South Wales on
9 July 1944. The advanced party comprised 1 Officer, 29 Other Ranks, 2 Chev
trucks, 1 Dodge Weapon Carrier, blankets, mess gear and 7 days rations.

When they arrived at Leyburn, the camp consisted
of one large building which was the mess hall and kitchen. They immediately started
to dig latrines and erect tents in readiness for the arrival of the crews. The
camp was about 3 miles from the airfield hidden in a pine and she-oak forest on
the Leyburn to Clifton Road.

Well Saturday 15 August has come
and gone and the deeds of 200 Flight and the "Z" Team Operatives
have been further memorialised with the placement of that beautiful
monument in Liberator Place Leyburn.

It was a magnificent day
weather wise, indeed it could not have been better. I feel the
ceremony went very well with good numbers in attendance.

The stars of the event of course were the two WW2 RAAF Leyburn
Veterans Ian Lang and Jim Banks OAM MID and the families of the
three other veterans who had either passed away or were to fail to
make the journey.

I feel that Ian Lang did a brilliant job despite being 93 years
old and I was so glad that he was able to travel up from Victoria
for the occasion.

Saturday was not only the 70th anniversary of the Japanese
surrender and the end of WW2, but for me it was also the culmination
of some ten months of intensive work to see the placement of a
suitable monument at the remains of the Leyburn Airfield.

I sincerely believe that the end product is a fitting memorial to
the Leyburn men and the project has filled me with a deep seated
feeling of accomplishment and I am grateful for the experience.